Concrete Batch Plants

Concrete batching operations involve the processing of concrete and the handling of concrete components. Concrete is a mixture of sand, aggregate, portland cement, and water. Sand and aggregate add strength and cement acts as a binding agent in the mixture. A cement supplement, such as potash, may replace a portion of the cement to influence the mixture's properties such as its permeability or strength. The concrete formula may vary depending upon the engineering specifications, its specific application, and the weather. Various types of equipment used in concrete batching operations can include hoppers, silos, conveyors, pumps, storage bins, front end loaders, trucks, engines, motors, generators, and boilers/water heaters.

There are 2 general methods of producing concrete: Wet-batching and dry batching. Wet-batching is a process whereby concrete is mixed at the plant and is then transported to a job site where it's poured. The concrete may also be mixed and poured into molds on-site to create pre-formed products such as concrete pipes, slabs, and beams. Dry-batching is a process whereby concrete components are loaded into a truck mounted mixer and then subsequently mixed by the truck enroute to a job site where it is poured. An alternate form of dry-batching is the loading of concrete components into separate bins on a truck where the components remaining unmixed until they are offloaded at the job site.

Who Needs a Permit?

Any concrete batch plant which would emit any pollutant, without the benefit of an air pollution control device, greater than or equal to 2 pounds in any 24 hours period.

Equipment registered under CARB's Portable Equipment Registration Program is not required to have a permit unless it is being operated as part of a stationary source as determined by Sac Metro Air District.

Permit Fees

New Installations: Every applicant for an Authority to Construct a new concrete batch plant process shall pay at least one half of the initial permit fee specified in Rule 301, Section 308 upon filing the application. Prior to issuance of a Permit to Operate, the applicant shall pay the remaining unpaid portion of the initial permit fee, if applicable. Permit fee for any concrete batch plant will be based on Schedule 1 (Rule 301, Section 308.2) where the rating is dependent on the cumulative total rated electrical horsepower of all motors in the equipment.

Baghouses and Internal Combustion Engines:

When a concrete batch plant is permitted with a baghouse or an internal combustion engine, a separate application for Authority to Construct is required for each baghouse and each engine over 50 horsepower.

Modifications:

For modifications of existing concrete batch plant resulting in an increase in the motor horsepower of the aggregate plant, the fee is assessed in accordance with fee Schedule 1 (see Rule 301, Section 308.2) based on the incremental increase in horse power resulting from such change.

When an application is filed for a revision of condition on a Permit to Operate or any alteration or addition, but no increase or change is made to the motor horsepower rating of the aggregate plant, the applicant shall pay a permit fee based on Rule based on Rule 301, Section 306.2.

As per Section 302.1 of Rule 301, any person installing/operating regulated equipment without obtaining a permit from the Sac Metro Air District first, will be required to pay permit renewal back fees for each year of unpermitted operation, to a maximum of 3 years, in addition to the initial permit fee.

Permit Application Completeness Determination

An application will not be accepted for processing until it is deemed complete. The following will be required in order for the Sac Metro Air District to make a completeness determination.

Completed application Forms G100, G101, CP100 and HRA100 with the original signature of the owner/proprietor or responsible officer of the company.

Applications for baghouses and engines should be completed and submitted in accordance with their corresponding application instructions.